PA Department of Health Urges Sexually Active Individuals in Delaware County to Get...( Delaware County Sees Sharp Rise i...),Health

Delaware County Sees Sharp Rise in Gonorrhea Cases

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Due to an 80-percent increase in the number of cases of Gonorrhea last year in Delaware County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health today urged sexually active individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 be routinely screened for the disease, as well as Chlamydia.

The number of reported cases of Gonorrhea grew to 921 in 2007 from 513 the year before.

Of last year's reported cases, 55 percent were identified in individuals who were 15-24 years old; nearly 60 percent were reported in women. The majority of the increase was reported in the southern part of the county and, in particular, the city of Chester.

The reason for the increase in Delaware County is unclear, but often those infected with Gonorrhea do not show symptoms so the infection may unknowingly be spread during unprotected sex. Other risk factors include a previous Gonorrhea infection, other sexually transmitted infections, new or multiple sex partners, inconsistent condom use, commercial sex work, and drug use.

Gonorrhea is the second-most commonly reported bacterial STD. An estimated 600,000 new Gonorrhea infections occur nationally each year.

For more information, visit http://www.health.state.pa.us or call 1-877-PA-Health.

CONTACT: Stacy Kriedeman

(717) 787-1783